Racket press



RACKET PRESS Filed May 3, 1939 V v 26 a W aumnc'e C2022.

Patented Aug. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in racket presses.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a racket press for holding the string frame portion thereof against warpage or distortion when the racket is out of use and which accomplishes such objects with a greatly simplified construction that may be inexpensively manufactured.

A further object of the invention is to provide a racket press comprising a pair of press members pivotally connected together at a pair of corresponding ends in the absence of the usual intermediate connecting link member with the free ends of the press members readily separable to permit unobstructed passage of the racket frame between the press members for placement therein, the construction of the press being such that the press members are movable into parallel position on the pivotal connections when out of use for occupying a minimum of space for shipment or storage.

With the above and other objects in View that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a racket press constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, the same being illustrated in holding or clamping engagement with the string frame of a racket illustrated by dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the racket press; 7

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the racket press in its folded or collapsed portion with the two members thereof moved into parallel juxtaposition;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of another form of racket press embodying two pivotally connected press members, the press members being illustrated by dotted lines in partially opened positions; and

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of racket press shown in Figure 5.

The racket press comprises a pair of press members designated in general by the reference characters It and II respectively and each press member comprises a pair of bars i2 and I3, corresponding ends of the bars [2 and it of the two press members it and l i being pivotally connected together as indicated in general by the reference character [4. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the opposed side edges of the press members l0 and II are straight as indicated'at l5 so that when the press members are moved on their pivotal connection I4 toward each other, the same lie in parallelism and juxtaposed as shown in Figure 3 for occupying a minimum of space for storage or shipment. The outer edges iii of the bars of the press members may be of any configurations or designs desired, "the same being illustrated as reversely curved.

- The pivoted ends of the bars l2 and I3 are cut away to provide interfitting ends it of tenon characteristic so that the two bars l2 and it of the press members In and 1! respectively lie in the same plane as shown in Figure 4. The pivotal connection [4 comprises a threaded bolt l1 extending through the interfitting endsof the bars I2 and I3, the headed end lilof the bolt ll being engaged with the lower bars l3 while the threaded portion |9\ of the bolt extends upwardly through the interfitting bars 12 for the reception of a wing nut 20. A coil spring 2| surrounds the bolt l1 between'the upper and lower bars I2 and It for normally holding the bars in spaced relation. The outer free ends of the superposed bars l2 and is of the press members it and H are connected together by a threaded bolt 22 shown in Figure 2, as extending through said bars i2 and 13 with a coil spring 23 surrounding the bolt 22 and engaged with the bars I2 and 13, while a thumb nut 24 is threaded upon the upper projecting end of the bolt 22.

A racket frame 25 is illustrated in Figure 1 by dotted lines as held within the racket press, the racket frame 25 being located between the upper and lower bars I2 and I3 of the press members. When it is desired to place the racket press in engagement with the racket frame 25, the thumb nut 20 on the pivot bolt ll connecting the two press members it] and H is loosened so that said press members may be widely separated'at their outer free ends so that no obstructions of any character are present to hinder the placement of the racket framebetween the bars l2 and E3 of the press members. The free ends of the press members are then moved toward each other until the bolts 22 are in proximity of the outer edges of the bracket frame 25 at which time the thumb nuts 26) and 24 are tightened on respective screw bolts for holding the press engaged with the racket frame 25, as shown in Figure 1. The racket frame 25 is held against distortion and warping by the merely'comprising two bars directly pivoted to-.

gether at corresponding ends when the press is disengaged from the racket and placed for storage or shipment, the straight edges l5 move into abutting engagement as shown in Figure 3 so that the press occupies a minimum of space. The thumb nut 20 is then tightened on the pivot bolt I! for holding the press members 10 and H in their engaged position and against accidental pivotal separating movement.

In the form of racket pressshown in Figures 5 and 6, the top and bottom bars Ho and I 30. are pivotally connected together at corresponding ends by means of top and bottom plates 25 and 26 respectively engaged with the outer faces of the bars [2a and I30. with each of the plates 25 and 26 having a pivot pin connection 2''! with the bars Ho and l3a. To limit the pivotal connection of the bars 12a and Ba, each of said bars carries a pin 28 extending through an arouate slot 29 in the adjacent plate 25 or 26 as shown in Figure 5, the opening and closing movements of the bars I2a and Hat on the pivotal connection 2i being limited by movement of the pins 28 carried by the bars and moving through the slots 29. The tensioned pivotal connection Ma between the bars I 2a and 13a extends through the plates 25 and 26 while the free ends of the bars I24; and I30. of each press member are connected by tensioned bolts 22a.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent and while there are herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A racket press comprising tWo press members directly pivotally connected together at corresponding ends and free of connections at their other ends, each press member including a pair of bars, the pivotal connection including a clamping bolt for moving the bars into clamp-- ing engagement with a racket frame, clamping bolt associated with the free ends of the bars of each clamping member and spring means associated with the clamping bolts and bars for normally holding the bars of each press me; ber separated for reception of a racket frame.

'2'. A racket press comprising two press members pivoted together at corresponding ends, the opposed sides of the press members being straight for straight edge contact when moved on their pivotal connection towards each other, each press member including a pair of bars, the pivotal connections including a clamping bolt for moving the bars into clamping engagement with a racket frame, a clamping bolt associated with the free ends of the bars of each clamping member and spring means associated with the clamping bolts and bars for normally holding the bars separated for reception of a racket frame.

3. A racket press comprising two press members directly pivotally connected together at cor responding ends, the opposed sides of the press members being straight for straight edge contact when moved on their pivotal connection towards each other for storage and/or shipment, and a tenon joint at the pivoted ends of said press members whereby said press members may be substantially moved into alinement so that a racket frame can be placed unobstructedly in position in r the press.

4. A racket press comprising two press members directly pivotally connected together at corresponding ends and free of connections at their other ends, each press member including a pair of bars, the pivotal connections including a clamping bolt for moving the bars into clamping engagement with aracket frame, a clamping bolt associated with the free ends of the bars of each clamping member, spring means associated with the clamping bolts and bars for normally holding the bars separated for reception of a racket frame, and a tenon joint at the pivoted ends of said press member.

5. A racket press comprising two press members pivoted together at corresponding ends, the opposed sides of the press members being straight for straight edge contact when moved on their pivotal connection towards each other, each press member including a pair of bars, the pivotal connections includinga clamping bolt for moving the bars into clamping engagement with a racket frame, a clamping bolt associated with the free ends of the bars of each clamping member, spring means associated with the clamping bolts for normally holding the bars separated for reception of a racket frame, and a pair of plates to which the respective pairs of bars are pivotally connected, the clamping bolt at the pivoted end of said press member extending between said plates.

6. A racket press comprising two elongated press members directly pivotally connected together at corresponding ends, and abutment shoulders on the pivoted ends of the press members adapted to engage each other when the elongated press members are widely separated at their free ends to facilitate placement of a racket therein and for limiting separating movements of said press members.

7. A racket press comprising two elongated press members directly pivotally connected together at corresponding ends, and abutment shoulders on the pivoted ends of the press members adapted to engage each otherwhen the elongated press members are widely separated at their free ends to facilitate placement of a racket therein and for limiting separating movements of said press members, and said press members having opposed straight edges adapted to be moved into abutting contact when out of use for occupying a minimum of space.

LAURANCE C. DOLL. 

